When it comes to keeping the house warm during winter, many of us (rather reluctantly) opt for the tactic of putting the boiler through its paces for most of the day – which can lead to some hefty utility bills over the colder months.
Particularly now with much of the UK working from home, many are having to heat the house for longer every day, with The Sun recently reporting that the domestic household’s average winter heating bill will top £200 for the three-month period between December and February.
Those are some lofty numbers to contend with alongside the rest of your festive spending, so it makes sense to do what you can to help reduce heat loss from your home, not only for the sake of your bills, but also to help take the strain off your home heating system. With that in mind, here are four simple ways to keep things toastier at home that don’t involve turning up the thermostat.
Close your windows and curtains
While it might seem obvious and generally sane behaviour not to have your windows open during winter, you might be surprised to know your curtains also play a solid role in reducing heat loss from the home.
While your windows (particularly if they’re modern double-glazed numbers) will carry the brunt of the insulation demand between the two, closing your curtains aids heat retention by reducing the flow of air between the hot and cold areas of the room – which in turn reduces heat loss from the windows.
Use draught excluders
As their names suggest, draught excluders play a key role in controlling airflow and ventilation around the home. Draught-proofing is one of the cheapest and most effective ways to save energy, helping to reduce condensation and damp through fresh air induction, but also controlling draughts in order not to waste too much heat.
Insulate pipes and water tanks
Insulating your water tank pipes and radiators is another simple way to help save money on your bills. It’s a quick and easy installation process that’ll mean you spend less money heating your water up, plus your hot water will stay hotter for longer.
It won’t cost you much to get the job done – a hot water cylinder jacket costs around £15, for example, while foam pipe tubing can be found down at your local DIY store or a few pounds.
Place rugs or mats on the floor
Particularly if you’re working with a non-carpeted floor in one of your main rooms, adding a rug or mat to it can help keep the room warm. Not only will it keep your bare feet away from a potentially cold floor, but a rug also adds a layer of insulation to the floor, trapping cool air underneath and keeping it from moving upwards and cooling the room. Plus, if you’re looking for an additional design feature in your living room this winter, a rug offers a great two birds, one stone option.
All of the ideas above are great little helpers for saving money but also to help make your home heating system more efficient and take some strain off your boiler. If your boiler does break down, a bad credit loan could help you to afford the vital repairs you need to warm your home again – just make sure you can meet the repayment terms if you do choose to seek credit this winter.
Hopefully with the tips above, though, you can enjoy a cost-cutting and stress-free winter this year.
